Volkanovski vs Gaethje: 5 Shocking Reasons It Could Happen
Will Volkanovski vs Gaethje actually happen? That is the loudest question after UFC 333. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski finished Movsar Evloev on Saturday and immediately pointed at lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Here is where Volkanovski vs Gaethje stands today.
Volkanovski vs Gaethje: What the Champion Said
At the post-fight press conference, Volkanovski called a Gaethje fight something he would retire for, win or lose. He had pitched the idea before the Evloev fight and repeated it afterward. At 38, with nine featherweight title wins, he has little left to prove at 145 pounds. Read our UFC 333 results for the full story of his finish.
5 Reasons Volkanovski vs Gaethje Could Happen
- Volkanovski would retire either way. That makes the fight a clean farewell, with no risk of a messy rematch cycle.
- Dana White is open to it. He has usually resisted champion-vs-champion fights, so his openness is a notable shift. Bloody Elbow covered the reaction in its piece on Volkanovski’s next fight.
- Gaethje may be close to the end. He is 37 and won the lightweight title in June by beating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. Many analysts see this as a possible final fight.
- Featherweight is out of challenges. Volkanovski has the most title wins in the division’s history, and he has beaten the best of the current group.
- It is a Paramount+ event. Two beloved veterans in a retirement fight is the kind of card the UFC loves to promote.
What Could Stop Volkanovski vs Gaethje
The fight depends on Gaethje. He has not publicly agreed to anything, and he is still serving a medical suspension from the Topuria fight. There is also a queue. Gaethje has said he is next in line, and Arman Tsarukyan says the UFC told him the same. If Gaethje retires, a vacant lightweight title and a fight for it follow.
Why Volkanovski vs Gaethje Works at 155 Pounds
Volkanovski has failed twice at lightweight, losing both times to Islam Makhachev, one of the best grapplers ever. Gaethje is a very different test. He is a pressure striker, and against a rangy, durable counterpuncher the fight could become either a technical chess match or a wild brawl. Our Volkanovski vs Evloev preview explains how his timing and body work make him dangerous against any striker.
Other Options for Volkanovski
If the superfight stalls, analysts have floated three alternatives:
- Jean Silva: a fan-favorite finisher at 145 pounds.
- Petr Yan: a legacy fight with the bantamweight champion moving up.
- Another title defense: a rematch with a top contender.
None of them carries the legacy weight of Gaethje.
Our Verdict on Volkanovski vs Gaethje
The business case is strong. Volkanovski vs Gaethje would be a send-off between two of the sport’s most popular fighters. The obstacles are timing and Gaethje’s own decision. If we had to bet, we would say the UFC gives Volkanovski his shot in 2027, because he is a champion who has earned the right to ask.
Betting Angle
No lines exist for Volkanovski vs Gaethje until the UFC announces it. Learn how to read the market in How to Bet on UFC: A Beginner’s Guide, and check current prices in UFC betting predictions for UFC 334, 335 and 336. For negotiation updates, follow MMA Fighting.